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mtncorg Says: The thought behind the formation of these rock spires is that volcanic ash spewed out first, cooling into a 2000 foot deep layer of dark colored rhyolite. Erosion - water, wind and ice - then sculpted the formations into what you now see.Look at the formations from the car...
mtncorg Says: From the Visitor Center, the Bonita Canyon Drive winds 8 miles up to dead ened at this point, 6879 ft/2094 m high. From here trails take off, exhibits explain and you overlook the Land of the Standing-Up Rocks.
mtncorg Says: You can peer through spotting scopes at Massai Point towards the different sights within the rock formations, the Monument or the surrounding region. Sugarloaf Mountain and Cochise Head is off to the north. An early homesteading couple turned their ranch into a guestranch...
kop-queen Says: We only had time to drive to the top and wander around for 20 minutes as we arrived far too late in the day. Ideally had we been there a couple of hours earlier the light would have created much better shadows. We passed many signs for different trails and I imagine it would...
Faraway Ranch Historic District
richiecdisc Says: Neil and Emma Erickson, Swedish immigrants, settled in Bonita Canyon in the late 1880s. Their homestead is now a National Historic District and the appropriately named Faraway Ranch is the main feature. It is charming and it's nice to stroll the grounds on your own or do a...
richiecdisc Says: Reptiles are also pretty prolific here in Chiricahua with over 30 varieties of snakes alone. We saw a rattlesnake late afternoon as we sat picnicking close to the Visitor Center and caught this very pretty Mountain spiny lizard while out on the trails.
Salsa Fiesta: A Great Mexican Restaurant
KimberlyAnn Says: Salsa Fiesta is a wonderful small local Mexican restaurant located in Wilcox. We both had a tamale and a Chili Rellano. The tamale was very good, and the Chili Rellano was the best I have ever had! The anahime chili it was made with was so mild and flavorful, the batter...
richiecdisc Says: Chiricahua National monument is located 120 miles east of Tucson. Exit Interstate 10 at Willcox, and follow Arizona Route 186, 36 miles south to the Monument. There is a $5 per person charge to enter the park but the America The Beautiful Pass is good for all National Park...
KimberlyAnn Says: To get to Chiricahua you will need your own car. From highway I-10 exit at Willcox, then follow State Route 186 36 miles to the monument. There is no gasoline available in or near the monument, so be sure that you fill up your gas tank in Willcox before heading out highway...
Helpfulness
There are no gas stations, food stores, vending machines, motels, or hotels in the monument, so be sure that you are well-supplied before arriving at Chiricahua. The small town where we purchased our supplies was Wilcox, Arizona, which lies 38 miles north of the monument. According to the monument's paper there is also a small town, Sunizona 27 miles to the south where you can also get food and gas, but we did not visit this town, so I do not know what it is like. I do know that Wilcox is the larger of the two at a population of 3,100 people. Sunizona has only has a 2,104 population, and has no lodging possibilities.
Updated Apr 6, 2009
Website: www.desertusa.com/Cities/az/wilcox.html
KimberlyAnn Says: No backcountry camping is allowed in Chiricahua, so all campers must camp in the Bonita Campground or the nearby national forest. Collecting Firewood and building fires outside of fire rings is not allowed. If you are a rock climber be aware that rock climbing is not allowed...
Trail To the Fort Bowie National Historic Site
KimberlyAnn Says: This example of an Apache Wickup Camp may be seen along the 1.5-mile trail to the ruins of Fort Bowie. From the early 1400s this area of Arizona was the home of the Chiricahua Apaches. They were a nomadic people, hunting large game and gathering edible plants. The Apache...
Fort Bowie Ruins and Visitor Center
KimberlyAnn Says: When I state that Fort Bowie preserve the remains, or describes them as ruins, that is what they are. There are no complete buildings remaining of the original fort as the photo shows. The only complete building is the visitor center that has been built nearby the ruins....
Basaic Says: The view from Inspiration Point is more than worth the effort to get there. Good hiking boots; water, more water; a hat; sunscreen; possibly some food if you are taking the whole heart of the rocks trail.
Basaic Says: The Inspiration Point Trail is a 1/2 mile trail each way. It is much flatter than the Mushroom Rock Trail and is a good cool down and a chance to lower your heart rate. It also offers several great views. Good hiking boots; water, more water; a hat; sunscreen; possibly some...
richiecdisc Says: We arrived at Chiricahua National Monument very late afternoon and secured a spot at the campground which was as our friends had told us, quite a nice one. It was heavily treed for the Southwest so our first truly comfortable spot in our still short trip. A river ran...
don't think twice, do it twice
richiecdisc Says: Saguaro sorted itself out well enough but the next morning I discovered I'd lost my car keys. I tore the car apart looking in vain and finally asked at the Visitor Center if the could call Chircahua to inquire for me about them. They nicely obliged and their park...
richiecdisc Says: We were glad to be in our bags. It was such a great spot and perfect weather for camping. We could have stayed here a couple days but spending another night with our bitter buddy wasn't as appealing. We made a plan to get up early, pack up all our gear before our hopefully...
richiecdisc Says: Our friend was already cooking up some chicken and we felt bad we didn't have some beer or wine to contribute to the meal so cooked some pasta as a side dish. To be honest, we were tired from the drive and used to bedding down early after our White Sands days and we'd have...
richiecdisc Says: We fell in love with the alligator juniper. Here we were heading to Chiricahua for a second time. In three days. And to think that we had never heard of this particular Arizona National Monument just four days ago now seemed almost surreal. We met a couple at White Sands...
This area of Southeast Arizona has been occupied for thousands of years. It is widely believed, though, that the first permanent residents were the Chiricahua Apaches who settled in the area in the......
The Great Escape: Chiricahua National Monument
Named after the most fierce branch of the Apache tribe, Chiricahua National Monument's signature pinnacles are a fitting reminder of their strong and proud namesakes who once roamed this for them...
We arrived at Chiricahua National Monument on January 30, and found it to be cold (at 8:45 P.M. it was 33 degrees), but very beautiful. Although this park lies in southern Arizona, its 5,160 to 7,365...
Volcanism and erosion are thought to be behind theformation of towering rock columns and formations in the northwest corner of the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The local Apaches...
I was looking for a unique less visited place to go hiking and came upon Chiricahhua national monument in SouthEast Arizona. The park is part of the Islands in the Sky ecosystem. These are created by...
Build your own Chiricahua National Monument page
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